The Most Dynamic Social Innovation Initiatives of 2012

Susan McPherson
, I write about social good, innovation and corporate responsibility.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

From a national day of giving back to an inspiring show of corporate support after Hurricane Sandy, 2012 was a remarkable year for social innovation, philanthropy and corporate responsibility. Below, I share my picks for this year’s social innovation highlights and best-in-show campaigns. I’d love to hear your top picks too, so please share in the comments section!

Most Innovative Partnership for Good: 10x10 & Intel

10x10 is a feature film, Girl Rising, and a social action campaign created and launched by an award-winning team of former ABC News journalists in association with The Documentary Group and Paul Allen's Vulcan Productions. The transmedia project, funded mainly by Intel, uses the power of storytelling and the leverage of strategic partnerships to deliver a single message: "Educating girls in developing nations will change the world." Intel has worked for decades to improve education around the world understanding that if the education gap is closed for girls, not only are their lives transformed but so are the lives of everyone they touch.

Outstanding Corporate Responsibility Report: Nike

Most of us who are active in corporate responsibility know that the audience for CSR reports is quite small. Nevertheless, as CSR goes mainstream, more and more people are taking an interest. In terms of the best of the best, Nike continues to "just do it." Veteran writer Leon Kaye, who often reviews annual sustainability reports, called Nike’s 2011 report “quite possibly one of the most compelling and engaging I have ever come across.” Kaye gave this report kudos for innovation, education, and how it managed to “bring sustainability alive” using demonstrations and common language. I agree with Kaye and believe the report sets the bar for others to follow. Both Coca-Cola and Cisco's are strong runners-up.

Most Effective Cause Marketing Campaign: The Businesses That Provided Support for Sandy Victims

In lieu of selecting one campaign that stood out this year, I want to showcase the hundreds of corporations that provided generous support to those affected by the disastrous Hurricane Sandy. The Business Civic Leadership Center in Washington DC provides this excellent tool that has tracked the millions of dollars in aid, services and support provided by businesses large and small.

CSR Game changer: Jochen Zeitz, Puma

Jochen Zeitz, Puma chairman, lead his company in taking the environmental profits and loss (EP&L) process down to a product level for the first time ever. Doing so helps demonstrate to consumers what products are more sustainable by putting a price tag against the environmental damage they do. Said Zeitz: "I will be involved in seeking to take this beyond one company and try to start scaling the impact by working with other business leaders to stop damaging subsidies.” Let’s hope this is successful as it has tremendous potential to disrupt traditional supply chains at hundreds of companies.

Exceptional Employee Engagement Program: Clif Bar

Last January, I wrote about the continued importance of employee engagement in business. Companies large and small are jumping on the bandwagon to create such programs and sustainability often plays a part. One exceptional program caught my eye. At Clif Bar, sustainability is embedded in employees’ benefits package, including incentives for actions such as making eco-friendly home improvements and purchasing a fuel-efficient car. Employees are rewarded for such positive behavior and recognized at year-end. Another very impressive campaign: the Greater Good initiative at Burt’s Bees. The successful program empowers employees through trainings in actionable environmental stewardship, social outreach, natural wellness, and leadership. The program supports a company-wide goal to achieve 100% employee engagement in sustainability by 2020.

Hats off to the editors of Fast Company for creating FastCoExist, an engaging and beautifully designed platform for sharing world changing ideas on social entrepreneurship, energy, technology, food, environment and transportation. I read it every day. The Guardian should be recognized for its stellar sustainability hub Guardian Sustainability, which will launch in the US in early 2013. Stay tuned for the exceptional and hard-hitting coverage of business and corporate responsibility by executive editor Jo Confino and his team of bloggers.

Refreshing New Nonprofit: Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code launched this summer with funding from Twitter along with several other technology firms. The first project was an 8-week intensive program teaching the basic principles of computer science and coding to high-school girls. Each participant was matched with a female mentor from a tech company, giving Girls Who Code’s funders an opportunity to engage their employees. This innovative young organization has big plans for the future and has its vision set on training over 1 million girls by 2020. Think what this will be mean for closing the gender gap in technology.

Most Unique Philanthropic Program: #GivingTuesday

Sparked by a brainstorm from 92Y’s Henry Timms, who shared his brilliant idea with the team at the UN Foundation, GivingTuesday grew into an unprecedented partnership of more than 2,500 charities, volunteer organizations, corporations, community centers and foundations. On November 27, thousands of volunteer events, giving celebrations, and philanthropic campaigns took place across the country. The fundraising totals for nonprofits are still being measured, but regardless of monetary impact, it certainly sparked a robust national discussion on the importance of giving and philanthropy.

Brilliant Conference Bringing It All Home: Social Good Summit

Sponsored by the UN Foundation, Mashable, 92Y, UNDP and The Gates Foundation, the annual Social Good Summit, now heading into its 4th year, never ceases to amaze. The September event generated the world’s largest global conversation around how new media and technology can empower and make positive change in people's lives. Speakers ranged from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to NY Times writer and humanitarian Nick Kristof, to musician and artist Peter Gabriel, to environmental activist, Jane Goodall. Don't miss it in 2013.

Top New Idea: The B Team

The B Team, brought to us by Virgin Unite, is a plan with a single purpose: to make business work better. By shifting the focus from just financial gains, toward environmental and social gains as well, The B Team achieves its vision by creating a series of ‘Grand Challenges’ that individuals can take action on. Each Challenge, led by a B Team business leader, will empower and enable businesspeople around the world to transform how business is done. Founding leadership includes Sir Richard Branson; Jochen Zeitz, Chairman of Puma; and entrepreneur Derek Handley as inaugural CEO. The founders partnered with a community of social entrepreneurs, activists, and business leaders to help shape and scale the program. Let's root for this exceptional initiative to truly steer transformational change. Our world depends upon it.